SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION (STI) FREE TESTING FOR APPROX. 300 STUDENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Brandeis University allocates funds from the University budget to provide free testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) to undergraduate students on this campus. Testing will be done at the Health Center and all lab work will be done though the Beth Israel Hospital. This testing would be available throughout the academic year. Free STI testing would provide a needed service to students on this campus. STI testing is used by individuals who feel that they might have an STI, a sexually transmitted infection, or who want to be proactive and get tested before engaging in sexual acts. The importance of timing: STI testing needs to be available on a consistent basis. Having testing done once a year is not effective because individuals need to get tested when it is most appropriate for them. Further, having STI testing available would allow those individuals who are thinking about having sex with a new partner to get tested before doing so.

1. Why do you thin your proposal will benefit the student body at large?
Statistics show that there is a very high rate of STIs on college campuses. 1 in 3 sexually active Americans will have contracted an STI by the age of 24. Getting tested for these infections is costly, especially for a college student living on a limited income. Further, if this testing is done through a student’s insurance company, a bill for the exam is sent home to the parents; this deters students from getting tested who do not want their parents knowing about their sexual behavior. A University should be concerned about student sexual health in light of the high costs to the individual and student’s aversion to getting tested through their insurance companies due to exposure. It is thus logical for the University to be providing this testing. Brandeis University was founded on the pillar of social justice. There are currently a percentage of Brandeis students who are sexually active and who are not getting tested; the greater campus sexual health is being impaired by this lack of service. As a liberal and progressive University, we should be offering students the ability to be tested. Moreover, Brandeis did offer free STI testing up until 2003, which demonstrates that the University is committed to improving this campus’ sexual health and providing this service to its undergraduate students.

2. Why and how do you think your proposal will benefit in short and long term?
We believe that Free STI testing will benefit the student body and that it is a service that is appealing and necessary to the students. In a survey created by the Student Union Government, in which 388 students participated it was found that:308 students responded that they have some level of sexual activity, 251 students do NOT get regularly tested (80 students do get tested and 54 responded not applicable), 304 students do not know if testing is covered by their insurance, 165 students strongly agree and 104 students agree that parental notification acts as a deterrent for being STI tested, and when asked how likely a student would be to get tested “if it were free and confidential at the health center”, 249 responded very likely, 80 responded likely, 31 responded average, 20 responded not likely and 7 responded not at all. The survey demonstrates that students are interested in this service. Additionally, we have found that many other Universities offer free STI testing for their students. Brandeis University offered free STI testing up until 2003, when it was cut from the budget, UC Santa Cruz, UNC, Duke, and Harvard offer free HIV testing. Ohlone College (a community college in Fremont, CA) offers free STI testing. Penn State University Health Center offers free testing for AIDS/HIV through a grant from the state. Additionally, 4,225 students were tested at the Health Center in 2003 for sexually transmitted infections. Western Illinois University Health Center provides confidential STI testing. Healthcare providers there conducted 1,169 STI tests during the last full academic year. (This is about 10 percent of the student population at the University). University of Connecticut Student Health Services sponsored a day of free STI Testing for one day in the Student Union Ball Room and it was very popular. Finally, because many STIs are of "silent nature", meaning they often do not show symptoms, it is imperative that students are tested for them to prevent their spread. If testing is available to any student, no matter what their financial situation, they are more likely to get tested and then take preventative or restorative measures if needed.

3. Whom have you consulted for the proposal?
Rick Sawyer, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Student Life. Jean Eddy, Vice President of Students and Enrollemnt. Kathleen Maloney, Nursing Director

4. Please list any peoplep we can contact as references in regards to your proposal.
Jessica Blumberg (jblumbi@brandeis.edu, 914-548-7217) and Rebecca Wilkof (rwilkof@brandeis.edu, 510-508-0944)

5. Any further explanations if necessary.

ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS
- Budget Breakdown

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